Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Hid from Our Eyes: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery by Julia Spencer-Fleming is out today. This is a short review to let those of you who adore this series (and I'm one of you) that this the ninth in the series is available today to ease your quarantine blues. My review is short because I don't want to include spoilers.

If you haven’t read any in this series, start with In the Bleak Midwinter and you’ll soon race to read all nine. Clare is an Episcopal priest in a small town in the Adirondacks. Russ is the Chief of Police and their town is considering turning over policing to the State Police when a murder that mimics two unsolved possible homicides -- one in 1972 and one in 1952 -- threatens to reduce confidence in the local squad. Issues including PTSD, treatment of women, and sobriety make this book more than a clever romp. Clare has personal concerns that I can't share as they'd ruin the series for those who haven't yet read the earlier books. The problems of her job and her life are overwhelming though. The local minor characters in this series never disappoint the reader. These books are simply perfect for our times. I found the ending a touch too tidy, but I loved revisiting Clare and Russ and look forward to seeing what happens next.

Summing It Up: The Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries offer a clever premise, interestingly flawed characters, a fascinating small town, and plots that always deliver. Begin with In the Bleak Midwinter unless you've read the others. If you have, you won't need encouragement to begin Hid From Our Eyes immediately.

Rating: 4 stars    

Category: Chinese Carryout, Fiction, Grandma's Pot Roast, Soul Food

Publication date: April 7, 2020

Author Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/juliaspencerfleming/

Read an Excerpt: https://us.macmillan.com/excerpt?isbn=9780312606855

Interview with the Author: https://bookpage.com/interviews/25034-julia-spencer-fleming-mystery-suspense#.XoyPPHJOnIV

What Others are Saying (Don't read these if you haven't read any books in the series.):

 "Series fans have had a long wait to dive back into Spencer-Fleming's cleverly constructed mysteries, and this ninth entry (following Through the Evil Days, 2013), which delivers a haunting exposure of the town’s dark side, won’t disappoint." —Booklist

BookPage: https://bookpage.com/reviews/25027-julia-spencer-fleming-hid-from-our-eyes-mystery-suspense#.XoyPXHJOnIV 

 

Kirkus Reviews:  https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/julia-spencer-fleming/hid-from-our-eyes/

  
Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-60685-5